Protective grille

ABSTRACT

A foldable closure structure comprising a foldable curtain having a plurality of panel members hingeably interconnected along opposed vertical edges. Detachable hinge means are secured in spaced apart relationship to each of the vertical edges of the panel members. A connecting rod interconnects the hinge means of adjacent vertical edges along a common axis. Suspension means are provided for suspending the curtain in a frame opening. The hinge means are each provided with attachment means for detachable connection to a portion of a respective vertical edge of adjacent panel members.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS United Kingdom 160/183 United StatesPatent 1 1111 3,901,302

Dagenais Aug. 26, 1975 1 PROTECTIVE GRILLE [76] Inventor: RobertDagenais, 4231-52nd St.,

Laval, Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: Oct. 16, 1973 21 App]. No.: 406,896[57] ABSTRACT n i A foldable closure structure comprising a foldable[52] [1.5. Ci. 160/183; 160/199; 160/229; curtain having a plurality ofpanel members hingeably 2 R interconnected along opposed vertical edges.Detach- [5 i] 7".- Cl. E051) 3/00; EOSD 7/00 able i g means are securedi Spaced apart relation [58] Fleld 0f Search 160/183, 199, 206, 210, pto each of the vertical edges of the panel 160/21 1, 212, 213, 229, 230;l6/l28 R bers. A connecting rod interconnects the hinge means ofadjacent vertical edges along a common axis. Sus- [56] References cuedpension means are provided for suspending the curtain UNITED STATESPATENTS in a frame opening. The hinge means are each pro- 2 s35,2235/1958 Erickson 160/210 vided i h hm n means for detachable connec-3,359,594 12/1967 Pastoor 160/199 tion to a portion of a respectivevertical edge of adja- 3,405,756 10/1968 Harris 160/183 cent panelmembers. 3,654,982 4/1972 Labclle 160/199 7 Claims, 4 Drawing FiguresPATENTED AUG 2 8 I975 SHEET 1 U? 2 PROTECTIVE GRILLE BACKGROUND OFINVENTION prise numerous parts which are difficult to assemble andmanufacture. Also, some of these structures are difficult andtime-consuming to install in view of their weight and complex assembly.Still further, such structures are costly to manufacture and repairbecause of the great number of parts and materials used. Furthermore,known foldable closures have openings therein reducing their securityaspect.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is a feature of the present invention to providean improved foldable closure structure which substantially overcomes theabove-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, thus providing astructure which is easy to manufacture, economical, easy to install andof light weight.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a structurehaving interchangeable parts and which can be assembled in variouslengths without requiring special tools or pre-assembly. Thus, thestructure can be easily shipped in its non-assembled form and requiresvery little skill for installation and repair.

According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the presentinvention provides a foldable closure structure comprising a foldablecurtain having a plurality of panel members hingeably interconnectedalong opposed vertical edges. Detachable hinge means are secured inspaced apart relationship to each of the vertical edges. A connectingrod pivotably interconnects the hinge means of adjacent vertical edgesalong a common axis. Suspension means arealso provided for suspendingthe curtain from a track secured above an opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmented plane view of the folding closure structureextending across an opening;

FIG. 2 is a fragmented sectional view through a portion of the curtain;

FIG. 3 is a fragmented sectional end view of a further embodiment of apanel end edge; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmented view of the hinge members.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings,there is shown generally at 10, the foldable closure structure of thepresent invention. The structure is a foldable curtain formed from aplurality of elongated rectangular panel members 12 which areinterconnected along opposed verti cal edges 13 by detachable hingemeans 14 adapted to receive and retain the vertical edge 13 therein. Thehinge means 14 consist of a plurality of hinge members 15 secured alonga vertical edge of each panel member 12 and in spaced apartrelationship. The spacing between the hinge members 15 is equal to thelength of the hinge member to permit hinge members 15 of an adjacentpanel 12 to be interposed in the spaces to provide a series of hingemembers positioned in alignment for interconnecting two adjacent panels12 together. The interconnection is made by securing a connecting rod 17in a circular bore 18 provided in the member 15. A washer and bolt 29 isattached to each end of the rod 17 which terminates flush with the endsof the panel members 12.

The foldable curtain 10 is suspended in an opening 20 by support rods 19which are held in a vertical through bore 21 extending vertically alongthe panel member 12. The support rod 19 is provided with a connectableend 22 which is adapted to be received in a ceiling track 23 forslidable engagement therewith whereby to permit the panel members 12 ofthe curtain 10 to be foldable in an accordion fashion. As shown in FIG.1, a support rod 19 is provided in every second panel member 12.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, each hinge member 15 is provided with acylindrical bore 18 for receiving the connecting rod 17 therein asmentioned hereinabove. A further through bore 25 is disposed parallel tothe circular bore 18 and provides the attachment means. A panelreceiving opening 26 is formed in each member 15 and extends to theattachment through bore 25 whereby to permit the vertical end edge 13 ofa panel member 12 to be slid into the attachment bore. Thus, the panelmember 12 extends out of the panel receivingopening 26 and the hinge issecured to the panel by merely sliding it over the vertical edge of thepanel from the end thereof. Each hinge member 15 is also provided withan abutment surface 27, herein a concave surface, extending parallel tothe through bore 25 for abutment with a portion of the vertical edge 13of the panel member 12 adjacent to the panel member to which the hingemember is connected to.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the curtain panel members 12 are fullyextended, the end edges 13 are in abutment with the surface 27. In itsfully extended position, the panels 12 extend in an expanded accordionfashion with the panels traversing the central longitudinal axis of thecurtain at an angle of approximately 10.

As shown, the vertical end edges 13 of the panel members 12 are enlargedand hereinshown as being tubular edges having a hole 13 in at least theextremities of the ends of the tubular edge whereby to permit securementof the panels between a plurality of hinge members 15. The attachmentthrough bore 25 in the hinge members 15 are also of circularcross-section to receive the tubular edge of the panel members 12. It iswithin the ambit of the present invention to provide end edges 13 andattachment through bores 25 of cross-sections different than circular asthese provide a rigid connection and many shapes can provide a rigidconnection. As shown in FIG. 3, the tubular end edge 13 may be formed ofa tubular member 30 having an elongated slot 31 along its entire lengthfor connection to a vertical flat edge 33 of the rectangular panelmember 12. The edges of the tubular member 30 adjacent the slot 31 maybe serrated, as shown at 34, for securing the panel member 12 therein.Also, glue is preferably applied to the end edge of the panel 12 beforeinserting it into the tubular member 30.

Although not shown in the drawings, it is within the ambit of thepresent invention to provide reinforcing metallic strands throughout thepanel members 12 whereby to provide a stronger curtain.

As shown in FIG. 1, the curtain is supported by the support rods 19which are preferably located at every second panel member 12 depending,of course, on the width of these panels. If a support rod 19 is notprovided in one of the panel members 12, a connecting rod 17 is insertedinto the vertical through bore 21 of the panel and held therein bysecurement means such as the washer and bolt 29 threaded into each endof the connecting rod 17.

The foldable curtain 10 is also secured at its vertical ends by suitableconnectors attached to the vertical wall members 40 as is commonly usedin the art, see for example, US. Pat. No. 3,654,982 issued to theassignee of the present application.

The panel members 12 are preferably constructed of plastic and in thepresent case, these are extrusion moulded. The panels may be constructedof other suitable materials such as aluminum, wood, steel, etc. Also,the hinge members may be formed of plastic or aluminum material and thesame hinge member is provided for connection to either one of opposedend edges of the panel members 12. These hinge members can be formed,for example, by injection moulding. Thus, it can be seen that thecurtain of the present invention is relatively light and economical tomanufacture and easy to assemble. In its assembled state, it can be seenthat the end panels 12 of the curtain wall are secured to the wallmembers by a cleat section as disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S.patent and not forming part of this invention.

l claim:

1. A foldable closure structure comprising a foldable curtain having aplurality of panel members hingeably interconnected along opposedvertical edges, hinge members secured in spaced apart relationship toeach said vertical edges, said hinge members each having panelattachment means for connection to a portion'of a respective verticaledge of adjacent panel members, a connecting rod pivotallyinterconnecting said hinge members of adjacent vertical edges along acommon axis, each said hinge member having an abutment surface lyingsubstantially parallel to said connecting rod for abutment with aportion of said vertical edge of said panel member adjacent to the panelmember to which said hinge member is connected to, each said hingemember further having a circular bore therein for receiving saidconnecting rod, said attachment means being a through bore disposedparallel to said circular bore, and a panel receiving opening in saidmember extending to said through bore for slidingly receiving a portionof said vertical edge of a respective panel member in said through bore,and suspension means for suspending said curtain in a frame opening.

2. A foldable closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hinge membersare secured in spaced apart rela tionship along a respective verticaledge of each said panel members, said spacing being equal to the lengthof said hinge member whereby hinge members from an adjacent panel membermay be received in said spacing to permit interconnection of said hingemembers of adjacent vertical edges of said panels, along a common axis.

3. A foldable closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panel memberseach comprise a substantially rectangular panel having enlargedelongated vertical edges, said vertical edges being of a cross-sectionfor slideable connection in said attachment through bore of said hingemembers with said panel extending out of said panel receiving opening.

4. A foldable closure as claimed in claim 3 wherein said enlargedelongated vertical edges are tubular edges, said through bore of saidhinge members having a circular cross-section for receiving said tubularedges, and securement means engageable in the opposed ends of each saidtubular members for retaining a plurality of hinge members therebetween.

5. A foldable closure as claimed in claim 4 wherein said tubular edge isformed by a tubular member having an elongated slot along its entirelength for connection to the vertical edge of said rectangular panel.

6. A foldable closure as claimed in claim 3 wherein said panel membersand said hinge members are made of plastic material.

7. A foldable closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panel membersare provided with a vertical through bore for receiving a support rodtherein, said support rod having a top connectable end secured forsliding displacement in a ceiling track in the top of said openingwhereby to permit said plurality of panel members to be folded inaccordion fashion below said track.

1. A foldable closure structure comprising a foldable curtain having aplurality of panel members hingeably interconnected along opposedvertical edges, hinge members secured in spaced apart relationship toeach said vertical edges, said hinge members each having panelattachment means for connection to a portion of a respective verticaledge of adjacent panel members, a connecting rod pivotallyinterconnecting said hinge members of adjacent vertical edges along acommon axis, each said hinge member having an abutment surface lyingsubstantially parallel to said connecting rod for abutment with aportion of said vertical edge of said panel member adjacent to the panelmember to which said hinge member is connected to, each said hingemember further having a circular bore therein for receiving saidconnecting rod, said attachment means being a through bore disposedparallel to said circular bore, and a panel receiving opening in saidmember extending to said through bore for slidingly receiving a portionof said vertical edge of a respective panel member in said through bore,and suspension means for suspending said curtain in a frame opening. 2.A foldable closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hinge members aresecured in spaced apart relationship along a respective vertical edge ofeach said panel members, said spacing being equal to the length of saidhinge member whereby hinge members from an adjacent panel member may bereceived in said spacing to permit interconnection of said hinge membersof adjacent vertical edges of said panels, along a common axis.
 3. Afoldable closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panel members eachcomprise a substantially rectangular panel having enlarged elongatedvertical edges, said vertical edges being of a cross-section forslideable connection in said attachment through bore of said hingemembers with said panel extending out of said panel receiving opening.4. A foldable closure as claimed in claim 3 wherein said enlargedelongated vertical edges are tubular edges, said through bore of saidhinge members having a circular cross-section for receiving said tubularedges, and securement means engageable in the opposed ends of each saidtubular members for retaining a plurality of hinge members therebetween.5. A foldable closure as claimed in claim 4 wherein said tubular edge isformed by a tubular member having an elongated slot along its entirelength for connection to the vertical edge of said rectangular panel. 6.A foldable closure as claimed in claim 3 wherein said panel members andsaid hinge members are made of plastic material.
 7. A foldable closureas claimed in claim 1 wherein said panel members are provided with avertical through bore for receiving a support rod therein, said supportrod having a top connectable end secured for sliding displacement in aceiling track in the top of said opening whereby to permit saidplurality of panel members to be folded in accordion fashion below saidtrack.